Dillon pays Wray four months severance

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Former Dillon town manager Joe Wray received four months severance and four months of retirement benefits following his resignation last month from the town of Dillon.

The two benefits together total more than $40,000 gross, according to a separation agreement approved during a special meeting earlier this month of the Dillon Town Council. Wray also received more than $11,000 for work performed and unused vacation days earned up until his last day, which officially was March 1.

Dillon Mayor Ron Holland said Wray received the package in accordance with his employment contract. According to that contract, Wray was guaranteed three months of pay upon his termination of employment. Town council voted to add a fourth month of benefits.

“He’s been with us for seven years, first as a police chief and for a little while as town manager,” Holland said. “He was a good employee and council felt like adding a month’s severance was the right thing to do.”

Wray was hired to the town manager position in April 2012 after serving five years as Dillon’s chief of police. It is still not known what motivated his decision to step down.

Wray’s resignation came about a week after former interim Dillon police chief Brian Brady resigned amid a 5th Judicial District Attorney’s Office perjury investigation. Brady elected through his attorney to keep the details of his separation agreement confidential. However, acting Dillon town manager Carri McDonnell said the town did not pay any benefits to Brady following his resignation.

Brady joined the Dillon Police Department in April 2008. He was previously employed by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.